Posts from Christmas

Nothing, and I mean nothing, makes the house smell better than sweet holiday loaves just out of the oven. It's a siren call to the kitchen, even for those of us most devoted to sleeping in on a chilly morning.

These lovely loaves are made from a simple overnight dough that gets folded around a sweet cream cheese filling — essentially, cheese danishes in the form of a sliceable, shareable breakfast bread. One batch makes six loaves — that's one for you and plenty to share with friends, neighbors, teachers, bus drivers, and anyone who deserves a little thank-you gift this time of year.

Bubble and squeak, with its cutesy name, is a classic British day-after-holiday dish. It is incredibly versatile, as you can throw in any leftover vegetables or mashed potatoes into this comforting recipe — perfect for a relaxing meal after a hectic Thanksgiving.

I adore the weekend after Thanksgiving. It's long and replete with leftovers, and it's also when I get seriously excited about planning Christmas gifts. This weekend is still early enough to start a project like DIY vanilla or cocktail bitters, or to make a big batch of caramels, but not too early to freeze some dough for homemade puppy treats.

If you need a few fresh ideas for homemade holiday gifts this year, take a look! We have 15 homemade gifts from the kitchen (or for the kitchen) that you can get a head start on this weekend.

I am not a holiday food purist. When my family switched our eating habits, we carried our love of vegetables and whole grains into the holidays as well. At first, the other members of my extended family were hesitant, but after a few years, they realized that while the food was heavily loaded with vegetables, it was still delicious. These simple sweet potatoes would easily grace our table during the holidays.

We've always found that being told how to check the internal temperature of the turkey in one line of instruction is very different than actually doing it. And when we're talking about not only our own health but that of our guests as well, we don't want to get it wrong!

Here is how to take the temperature of your turkey and make sure that it has arrived at the safe internal temperature for eating.

You've roasted your turkey, and now it's time for for gravy. You don't need a recipe; this step-by-step guide will show you how to make delicious gravy to smother your mashed potatoes and gravy.

The deeply browned and greasy scrapings from the bottom of the roasting pan might not look like much when you first take the turkey out of the oven. But those drippings are Thanksgiving manna. Let's make some gravy.

Still hunting for the perfect dessert to crown your holiday table? This stunning pumpkin roll with a dreamy Swiss meringue buttercream delivers big on taste and packs an eye-pleasing punch. It’s a Thanksgiving no-brainer! (Oh, and did I mention it was easy? Yep, it's easy!)

Are you hosting a smaller Thanksgiving this year? Don't bother with a whole turkey — just roast a turkey breast! One half-breast or even a whole turkey breast makes more than enough for a small party of four to six. (And yes, you'll still have plenty of pan drippings to make gravy.)

Turkey breasts are also a cinch to roast. No flipping, no basting, no fuss. Here's a recipe to show you how to do it, step by step.

Even when you're on a budget, the holidays can still be enchanting—and delicious. The trick to staying out of the red (and still feeling festive) is to shave dollars while traveling, menu-planning, and hosting.

When I entertain, I make drinks that can do double duty as delicious offerings and gorgeous centerpieces. Whether placed on my bar or in the center of the dinner table, this seasonal cranberry sangria is perfect for your next holiday gathering.